Chief Sola Ebiseni, Secretary-General of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has resigned from his position and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ebiseni has also declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.
Ebiseni, who served as the South-West Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 general election, announced his decision during a meeting with Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in Akure.
He said he and his supporters were prepared to back President Tinubu, arguing that retaining the presidency in the South would promote political stability and give the administration an opportunity to consolidate its policies.
Ebiseni said his decision was influenced by what he described as the prevailing view that the presidency should remain in southern Nigeria.
The former commissioner acknowledged that Tinubu was not the only southerner seeking the presidency but argued that the administration had already introduced policies that should be given time to take effect.
Ebiseni also expressed concern that a change of government could lead to the reversal of some reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He noted that all the major presidential candidates in 2023 had promised to remove the subsidy, arguing that retaining it would have placed additional pressure on states already struggling to meet their financial obligations.
The former commissioner said President Tinubu deserved another four years to allow the full benefits of his economic and security reforms to materialise.
He cited proposed state police and the expansion of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to 12 as initiatives he believes require policy continuity.
While speaking, Governor Aiyedatiwa
said Ebiseni’s political activities across Ondo State, his experience as a former Chairman of the old Ilaje-Ese-Odo Local Government and his service as Commissioner several times in the state would add value to the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also identified Ebiseni’s position as Secretary-General of Afenifere and his activities in other sociocultural organisations as an added advantage to the tasks ahead.
However, Aiyedatiwa said Ebiseni and his supporters would no doubt add value to the President’s re-election campaign, to which the APC and the people of Ondo State are absolutely committed.
